Hyperpyrexia

hyperpyrexia

[¦hī·pər·pī′rek·sē·ə]

(medicine)

Extremely high fever.

Hyperpyrexia

elevation of the body temperature in humans and animals caused by a disturbance in heat loss. A fever of 42°C is considered critical: lethal changes in the brain tissue develop. The critical temperature for an individual may range from 40° to 44°C. A few cases have been recorded in which persons with a temperature of 44°C have recovered. Moderate hyperpyrexia may be induced artificially for therapeutic purposes (treatment of syphilis and other diseases). Artificially induced hyperpyrexia is called hyperthermia.

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